Marianne de Pierres Code Noir

Code Noir

Marianne de Pierres

Roc, Jul 2006, $6.00

ISBN: 0451461002

The Tert War (see NYLON ANGEL) is over and active participants like Parrish Plessis must find a new niche or die. Parrish seems to have adapted having made a success of herself in the post war era as a warlord though she also is a criminal. However, much of what she achieves she owes to the Cabal Coomera who suddenly calls in her blood debt; failure to do their bidding means her blood pays the debt.

The Cabal tasks her with finding their abducted, probably dead, shamans who have gone missing, uncover the identity of the culprit, and kill Loyl me Daac who connects the dots at least in their logic system. The first part of the tasking is simple enough though she fears the reaction of the lethal membership if she brings back a corpse or two. The second chore requires some sleuthing also, but she feels confident she can achieve the objective. However their final assignment is a bit more personal as Loyl me Daac is her former lover whom she still cares about as much as she can anyone, but also in some ways loathes.

The second Plessis' post-apocalypse thriller stars a female "Mad Maxine" in a world filled with nasty individuals who abuse power supporting Voltaire's philosophy about institutions. The gripping storyline is much darker and grittier than the first tale as the societal divides emphasizes class, species, and authority differences in which power is everything. The heroine is a terrific protagonist as she keeps the tale focused in her efforts to walk a thin line where a misstep means death.

Harriet Klausner